When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, "Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you in truth and a loyal heart"
Isaiah 38:2-3a
Isaiah 38:2-3a
There is a verse in the book of James that we often take for granted because it is so simple. It says, "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray" That's simple and straightforward; no hidden, no mind teasers. If you're suffering pray. And yet, some of us find this very hard to do. We want solutions. We want the pain to go away. We want to do something that will make our situation better. We try every means necessary, and yet when the day is done we have failed to do the one thing Scripture tells us time and again to do: pray,
This was what Hezekiah did. He was suffering. He was dying a horrible death. He had no heiur to take his throne after him, and he still had worries about enemies storming the gates. When Isaiah come to him and told him that he was going to die, Hezekiah"s heart was heavy, but he didn't allow his grief and fear to keep him from doing the one thing what would really help. He went into private (the text say he turned his face to the wall) and prayed to the Lord. Like David, he spoke of his faithfulness and love for the Lord, and his desire to continue living in the resence of the Lord. Then, after praying Hezekiah "wept bitterly." He was in pain, he was afraid,and he was suffering greatly. Would his Father in heaven hear him and give him the comfort he so sorely needed?
The Lord answered him through the prophet Isaiah: "I have heard your prayer, i have seen your tears; I will add to your day fifteen years." What a tender interchange between God and His beloved child, one of His chosen servants who was filled with pain and grief. God reached out to Hezekiah in response to his humble and sincere prayer, and He promised to heal him.
In the years following this incident, Hezekiah had a son named Manasseh. The king would noe have an heir to his throne, and when Hezekiah died (his son was 12 years old at the time), he died content, for he knew kingdom would go to his son in keeping with the line of David, and he knee he himself would be with God.
Hezekiah didn't allow his doubts to get in the way of turning to his Father in heaven. May we follow this godly king's example and go to the Lord when we are in pain, or frightened, or grieved. May we do as James said pray.
Are you suffering? Pray. Are you downcast? Pray. Do you worry about future, about your parents, about your children, about your husband or wife? Pray. Do you worry about the
Church of Christ and how it will fare in the days ahead? Pray, Do you have financial trouble? Pray. Whatever your situation, pray to the Lord.
This was what Hezekiah did. He was suffering. He was dying a horrible death. He had no heiur to take his throne after him, and he still had worries about enemies storming the gates. When Isaiah come to him and told him that he was going to die, Hezekiah"s heart was heavy, but he didn't allow his grief and fear to keep him from doing the one thing what would really help. He went into private (the text say he turned his face to the wall) and prayed to the Lord. Like David, he spoke of his faithfulness and love for the Lord, and his desire to continue living in the resence of the Lord. Then, after praying Hezekiah "wept bitterly." He was in pain, he was afraid,and he was suffering greatly. Would his Father in heaven hear him and give him the comfort he so sorely needed?
The Lord answered him through the prophet Isaiah: "I have heard your prayer, i have seen your tears; I will add to your day fifteen years." What a tender interchange between God and His beloved child, one of His chosen servants who was filled with pain and grief. God reached out to Hezekiah in response to his humble and sincere prayer, and He promised to heal him.
In the years following this incident, Hezekiah had a son named Manasseh. The king would noe have an heir to his throne, and when Hezekiah died (his son was 12 years old at the time), he died content, for he knew kingdom would go to his son in keeping with the line of David, and he knee he himself would be with God.
Hezekiah didn't allow his doubts to get in the way of turning to his Father in heaven. May we follow this godly king's example and go to the Lord when we are in pain, or frightened, or grieved. May we do as James said pray.
Are you suffering? Pray. Are you downcast? Pray. Do you worry about future, about your parents, about your children, about your husband or wife? Pray. Do you worry about the
Church of Christ and how it will fare in the days ahead? Pray, Do you have financial trouble? Pray. Whatever your situation, pray to the Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment